Women's Tennis Begins Spring With Victory

DENVER - The Colorado women's tennis team opened the spring season with an exciting 4-3 victory over the Denver Pioneers, Sunday afternoon at the Stapleton Tennis Pavilion on the campus of the University of Denver.

Colorado needed a three-set victory at No. 1 singles by senior Dominique Lemperle to clinch the win for the Buffaloes. Lemperle lost her first set 7-5, then rallied 7-5 in the second and held on 6-4 in the decisive third set to deny the Pioneers the upset. It was CU's 25th win in its last 27 matches with its in-state rival, including the last 15 in a row.

The host Pioneers took an early lead winning two of three doubles points at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. In singles, CU received winning efforts from Lemperle at No. 1, sophomore Katherine Lutgert (No. 2), sophomore Kendra Strandemo (No. 3) and senior Sarah Burrows (No. 6).

"The women showed a great deal of pride for the school with the way they came back," said head coach Nicole Kenneally. "Denver is a good team and on the rise, and the final result didn't surprise me."

With DU up 1-0, CU took its own lead claiming victories by Lutgert (6-0, 6-2 at No. 2), Strandemo at No. 4 (6-4, 6-4) before DU regained the advantage at 3-2 with a three-set win at No. 3 and another two set win at No. 5. Burrows tied the team score at 3-3 by splitting her first two sets, then taking an easy 6-0 victory in the third setting up Lemperle's exciting three set triumph.

"Dominique showed three years of experience," said Kenneally. "It was a good job by everyone and we competed very well in singles. Now we look forward to an exciting weekend ahead against nationally ranked [No. 34] Oregon (Friday, Jan. 24, Harvest House, Noon) and [No. 45] Illinois (Sunday, Jan. 26, Harvest House, 10 a.m.)."

Sunday, Jan. 20 - Colorado 4, Denver 3

Singles

1) Lemperle (CU) def. Dullens (DU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-4; 2) Katherine Lutgert (CU) def. Maksovi (DU) 6-0, 6-2; 3) Trettin (DU) def. Jessica Vanderdys (CU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3; 4) Strandemo (CU) def. Ginsburg (DU) 6-4, 6-4; 5) Kourim (DU) def. Sall (CU) 6-0, 6-1; 6) Burrows (CU) def. M. Altamirano (DU) 6-3, 0-6, 6-0.

Doubles

1) Yanick Dullens/Suzana Maksovic (DU) def. Morgan Sall / Kendra Strandemo (CU), 8-2; 2) Sarah Burrows / Jessica Vanderdys (CU) def. Stephanie Ginsburg/Jenny Trettin (DU), 9-7; 3) Beth Messaros/Barb Kourim (DU) def. Dominique Lemperle / Susan Johnson (CU), 8-1.